HOW BELOVED by Chamber Choir Kwintessens
‘HOW BELOVED’ – A CONCERT FOR LOVE
As the first light of summer touches the earth this year, chamber choir Kwintessens offers a program woven with love. Not only the tenderness of romantic love, but also the quiet, radiant gratitude that fills the heart when looking back on a cherished time in life. How deeply such moments live within us—richer, perhaps, than all the experiences we gather on our path.
The program flows through music by Purcell, Monteverdi, Shaw, Ešenvalds, Tavener, Van der Laag, Sviridov, Rimmer, Uusberg, and Pärt—voices from across time and place, united in beauty.
This program has been lovingly curated by Françoise Kably and Raoul Boesten. After 17 luminous years, Françoise will bid farewell to Kwintessens as she returns to her homeland of France. We are profoundly grateful for the grace of her soprano voice and her heartfelt presence in our midst. How beloved, indeed.
Chamber Choir Kwintessens
Acknowledgments:
I couldn't emigrate back to my native Brittany without taking with me a little bit of
those beloved voices, with whom I shared all those beautiful pages of music and friendship.
With this recording, I wish to express my deep gratitude to all of them:
the singers of Chamber choir Kwintessens (special mention to my dear soprano colleagues)
and of course to our choirmaster Raoul Boesten, whom we followed with such joy
in his wildest musical dreams. What a celebration it was!
Thank you also to all the other ensembles and projects that welcomed me to the Netherlands during these 17 years.
This CD is also a way to take with me a little bit of this treasure. An 'object' that,
beyond a memory, will bear witness to this beautiful slice of life and perhaps (I secretly dream of it), will inspire my grandchildren, one day, to sing. Because what a wonderful occupation it is to sing, and even more so to sing together!
Of course, I had to choose a few scores, and it was a difficult task, as we savored so many beautiful pieces of music. So, as a double "common thread," I decided to retain what touches me right now and that of Love, which our world so desperately needs.
I hope this listening will comfort... and make you want to sing!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
How Beloved!
Françoise Kably-Bellœuvre - June 2025
HOW BELOVED
How beloved is music—singers and musicians; You, friends; you, listeners.
How beloved are mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers;
How beloved the children of innocence.
How beloved those who passed beyond the veil yet still surrounding us from their eternity.
How beloved is family—in blood, in thought, in heart.
How beloved is diversity—in notes, colors, genders, in all living forms and emotions;
How beloved the encounters between them, between us, where unity is born.
How beloved are the difficulties, the losses, the failures and sorrows, that make us grow in our humanity, bringing us closer to our truest selves.
How beloved are faults and betrayals that lead to forgiveness.
How beloved is life, with sunsets and sunrises, with seasons, arrivals and departures.
How beloved are beauty, purity and silence—so elusive, so near yet just beyond reach.
How beloved is the unknown, which invites us to seek, expanding our world in ways unimaginable.
How beloved is the peace we hope for, patiently waiting.
How beloved and full of gratitude I feel.
How beloved is music.
How beloved… the music of life.
F. Kably- Bellœuvre, 2024
Tracklist
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Chamber Choir Kwintessens was founded in the Netherlands in 2005. Settled in The Hague, the Dutch Choir consists of 24 passionated singers. Committed to mostly contemporary music the choir has collected a large repertoire, serving its audience with more then only beautiful music. The choir stands out for creating an experience that touches the soul.
Founder & conductor: Raoul Boesten